sensible bodies, as such, are constituted and differ. Of tactile qua∣lities
there are seven orders, hot, cold, moist, dry, heavy, light,
hard, soft, viscous, arid, rugged, smooth, thick, thin. From the
two first orders, are derived the differences of Elements, for by
heat and cold, humidity and siccity they act and suffer, and are
mutually changed by alterative passions. Of these first qualities
two are active, heat and cold, two passive, humidity and siccity.
Heat is that which congregates homogeneous things; cold that
which congregates heterogeneous things; humid that which is
not easily contained in its own bounds, dry the contrary.
As there are four Elements, there must be four conjunctions
of the primary qualities, from each of which the Elements are
severally collected. The first conjunction is of hot and dry,
whence proceedeth fire; the second of hot and moist, whence
Air; the third of moist and cold, whence Water; the fourth of
cold and dry, whence Earth. In each of these one quality is prae∣dominant;
Earth is more dry then cold, water more cold then
moist, Air more moist then hot, Fire more hot then dry.
All these Elements may be mutually transmutated into one a∣nother;
the Symbolicall which agree in one primary quality are
more easily transmutated into one another then the asymbolical,
because it is lesse difficult to change one then many. This trans∣mutation
is not a generation, but a kind of alteration,
whence it is manifest one Element cannot be the principle of
another.
Mixtion, whereby the Elements concur to the composition of
a mixt body, is made by coacervation, as Emped••cles held, but af∣ter
such a manner that their contrary qualities remain in the
mixt; not potentially only, nor simply actually in their height,
but in a mean kind of way, their extremities being reduced to
some temper. From this contemperation come mixt bodies,
differing according to the various proportion of the tempera∣ment;
and as they are compounded of the Elements, so they re∣solve
into the same.
All these mixt bodies consist of all the Elements; of Earth, for
every things participates of the nature of that thing wherein it is
produced; of water, because every mixt thing must be concrete
and terminated; which properties Water best affordeth to Earth;
of Air and Fire, because every perfect mixt body is made by
temperament of contraries, such is Air to Earth, Fire to Water.
Again, the nature of all mixt bodies as well animate as inani∣mate,
as to mixture, is the same, but that the animate consist
of all the Element, is manifest in that they are nourished by
them.
The causes and common principles of mixt bodies are three;
materiall, fomall, efficient. The Materiall is the power to be and
not to be, by which elementary things are generated and corrup∣ted.